Railway-tie



H. JONES.

- RAILWAY TIE. APPLICATION man luNE 1|. x9`2o.

Patented May 3,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY JONES, OFSUFFERN, NEVI YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN BRAKE SHOE AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

RAILWAY-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

To @ZZ/whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY JONES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Suffern, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have made and invented ceitain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a rail tie and par.

ticularly to one which is formed of metal and is accordingly free from rapid deterioration such as experienced with the ordinary wooden tie as now almost universally used.

It has been found that when cast iron is i5 exposed to the weather or embedded in the ground, a coating of oXid or scale quickly forms thereon and acts as a most efficient protection against any further deterioration of the metal. It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a rail tie which is formed of cast iron and accordingly capable of ontlasting a great number of ordinary wooden ties and to incorporate therein a new and novel means for locking the rails firmly and permanently in position on the ties, it being possible by the aforesaid means to firmly lock and anchor the rails to the ties so that they cannot spread and also lock them against longitudinal shifting, thus obviating the use of anti-Creeper lugs such as are at present used to prevent the longitudinal displacement of the rails.

A further object is to provide a metallic tie which may be economically produced,

will greatly ontlast the ordinary wooden tie,

is simple in construction, and provided with improved means for locking the rails thereto, rendering unnecessary the use of bolts, nuts, spikes, tie plates or equivalent parts. A further object is to provide a metallic tie preferably formed of cast metal having improved means for locking and anchoring the rails thereto, which means are also adapted to act as a truss member for the interna-l reinforcement of the body of the tie.

A further object is to provide a metallic tie which will not be disturbed from its proper positionand will properly support the tracks even though the central portion of the road-bed should become slightly raised, as

often takes place in freezing weather.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear las the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel rail tie as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,y and in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction thereof, it being understood that changes may be made in the same within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of my novel rail tie;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View in end elevation of the foregoing, illustrating the manner in which the ballast of the road-bed surrounds the tie and firmly anchors the same in place;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of one of the tie rods for locking the rails in place and internally bracing the body of the tie.

Referring specifically to the several views, the tie is composed of the body 10, formed of cast metal and preferably of cast iron, and consists of the spaced vertical sides 11 which gradually merge into the horizontal end plates or rail platforms 12. The end plates or platforms are reinforced for a por tion of their length bv the sides 11 which project above and below the saine, so .that such shearing forces and bending moments as are brought to bear upon the end plates are transmitted to and taken up by the sides 11. Each end plate is provided with the overhanging flange-and-web abutment 14 which is adapted to receive thereagainst the fiange anda portion of the web of the rail R, Spaccd from the abutment 14E is a second abutment 15 which is adapted to contact Vwith the outside edge of the flange of the rail and cooperate with the first-mentioned abutment and positively hold the rail against spreading and overturning. The abutments 14 and 15 are formed integrally with the horizontal end plates 12, and the entire tie, being formed of cast metal, may be economically produced in large quantities.

Projecting between the sides of the body of the tie and located approximately midway between the end plates are the spaced bracing webs 16, the tops 17 of which lie in a plane above the plane of the end plates 12. In order to positively lock the rails in position between the confronting abut- 1 ments and in order to internally strengthen the cast body of the tie, I have provided the two rods 18, preferably formed of a material having a high tensile strength, such as steel, and each rod is provided at its one extremity with an upturned hook 19 capable of extending through a suitable opening 20 in the end plate of the tie and adapted to engage the top of the external flange of the rail and the bottom wall of the end plate and thus positively dra-w the rail down between the confronting abutments and lock it in such position.

The rods 18 are bent upwardly intermediate their ends, as at 21, and are provided with the offset heads 22 which are adapted to rest upon the tops of the spaced webs 16 and define an opening 23 for the reception of a wedge-shaped key 24;. Thus with the rails in position between the confronting abutments and the rods 18 assembled as shown in Fig. 2, the forced driving of the wedge 241 down between the heads 22 of the tie rods causes. the same to be firmly held in `palace and to securely tie and bond the rails together. The bending of the tie rods 18 intermediate their ends incorporates therein a certain amount of resiliency, so that the driving of the wedge 211 draws the rods taut and in addition tends to straighten the intermediate bent portion of the rods, as well as tending to slightly open up the upturned hoolr 19, all of which cooperates to firmly anchor the rails in place and prevents any possible loosening of the wedge 24, as the slight yielding and resiliency of theV rods due to their peculiar shape provides that the rods will be maintained continuously under tension, thus effecting a most secure and permanent lock ofthe wedge and rails in place. The rods 18 also act as a truss to internally reinforce and strengthen the body of the tie and relieve the cast metal of the sides of the tie from undue tensional strains or shearing forces.

The road-bed ballast preferably encompasses the sides of the tie and also extends therebetween, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, thus preventing the rails or ties from creeping and also firmly embedding the tie against longitudinal or lateral shifting. Thus my improved tie has entirely eliminated the use of nuts. bolts, spikes and tie plates, and has also obviated the necessity of anticreepers or similar devices.

In order that my improved tie'may be used for replacements of worn-out ties, the abutments 14 are rounded at their ends, thus allowing the tie to be inserted beneath the rails and twisted or turned about a vertical ments of the tie will move into engagement with the flanges of the rails and becomesecurely anchored thereto by the action ofthe locking rods 18.

The design of the cast metal body of the tie, comprehending as it does the spaced vertical sides 11 which merge into the flatend plates or rail platforms 12, provides a most strong and rigid tie, capable of withstanding over a long term of years the action of the elements, as well as the strains and shocks incident to its service, and .also entirely eliminates the rolling motion of the tie and passing trains so often experienced in ties as heretofore constructed and largely due to the upheaval of the center of the road-bed duringfreezing weather and the slight raising of the center of the ties. My improved tie presents at its center a minimum bearing area on the roadbed, so that the slight raising of the central portion of the road-bed will cause the ballast to force itself upwardly, without materially affecting the tie, and the end plates or rail platforms will continue to properly seat upon nd be supported by the ballast of the road- I-Iaving thus fully described and eX- plained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A railway tie comprising a body portion, abutments carried adjacent the ends thereof adapted to receive rails therebetween, and rods extending longitudinally of the body portion of said tie adapted to engage the external flanges of the rails and lock the same between said abutments and internally reinforce said body portion.

2. A railway tie comprising a body ortion, means adjacent the ends thereof adapted to receive and hold rails in place thereon,

Y and truss rods extending longitudinally ofV said body portion adapted to engage the eX- ternal flanges of the rails and Vlock said rails in position upon said tie and reinforce and strengthen said body portion.

3. A metallic railway tie comprising a body including end plates having confronting rail abutments thereon, locking rods eX- tending longitudinally of said body adapted to engage the external flanges of the rails and lock the samebetween'saidconfronting abutments, and means for putting said rods under tension to rigidly hold them in place and to internally strengthen and reinforce the body portion of the tie.

4. A metallic railway tie comprising a body portion including end plates having railabutments thereon, rods extending longitudinally of said body portion, bent upwardly intermediate their endsvand engaging theV central portion and the end plates of said tie, the remotev extremities ofsaid rods provided with means for engaging the external flanges of the-rails and for locking the same between said abutments, and

means engaging the adjacent extremities of said rods whereby they may be forcibly drawn together, to .thus lock the parts in assembled position and internally brace and strengthen the tie.

-5. A metallic railway tie comprising a body including end plates, confronting rail abutments carried by said end plates and adapted to receive rails therebetween, the inner rail abutments projecting over the rail flanges and adapted to hold the rails against overturning, and rods adapted to lock the rails between the confronting abutments and internally reinforce said body portion of the tie.

6. A metallic railway tie comprising a body portion formed with spaced sides and terminating in end plates, confronting rail abutments carried by said end plates, and rods provided at one end with hooks adapted to lock the said rails'between said confronting abutments, the opposite extremities of said rods provided with means whereby the said rods may be drawn together to forcibly hold the parts in assembled position.

7 A metallic railway tie comprising a body portion formed of spaced sides, end plates integral therewith and reinforced thereby, confronting abutments carried by said end plates and adapted to receive rails therebetween, the inner abutments adapted to overhang the flange of the rail and contact with the web thereof, and rods engaging the external flanges of the rails extending across the body of said tie, and means whereby said rods may be drawn together to lock the rails in place and internally reinforce the body portion of the tie.

8. A tie comprising a cast metal body formed with end plates, confronting abutments carried by said end plates and adapted to hold the rails against spreading and overturning in an outward direction, rods engaging the external flanges of the rails adapted to lock the rails between the said4 confronting abutments, and means whereby said rods may be drawn together to securely bond the rails in position and internally reinforce the body portion of the tie.

9. A ti'e comprising a cast metal body formed with end plates, confronting abutments carried by said end plates and adapted to hold the rails against spreading and overturning in an outward direction, rods engaging the external flanges of the said rails adapted to lock said rails between said confronting abutments, said rods extending upwardly intermediate their ends and engaging a portion of the body of the tie, and

means for drawing said rods together to hold the parts in assembled position and to internally reinforce said tie.

10. A metallic railway tie comprising a body portion formed with spaced sides terminating in end plates, a transverse web extending between the sides of the body portion with the upper surface thereof located above the general plane of the end plates, confronting abutments carried by said end plates and adapted to receive and hold rails therebetween, rods extending beneath said end plates engaging the external flanges of the rails, locking said rails between said abutments, said rods bent upwardly intermediate their ends and projecting over the said reinforcing webs and contacting therewith, means for drawing said rods taut to internally reinforce the bodyportion of the tie, to bond the two rails together, and to positively lock the rails betweeny the said confronting abutments.

11. A metallic railway tie comprising a cast metal body portion formed with spaced sides terminating in end plates, a transverse web extending between the sides of the body portion with the upper surface thereof located above the general plane of the end plates, confronting abutments carried by said end plates adapted to receive rails therebetween, tie rods bent intermediate their ends extending beneath said end plates and having hooks thereon engaging the external flanges of said rails and adapted to lock said rails between said abutinents, said tie rods projecting over the said reinforcing web, a wedge engaging said rods and adapted to draw the same taut, causing said rods to flex under tension and thereby positively lock said wedge and rails in position.

12. A metallic railway tie comprising a body including rail platforms and an intermediate portion extending therebetween, the intermediate portion of restricted horizontal area and the rail platforms presenting a relatively large horizontal area, thereby preventing upheaval of the center of the road-bed from affecting the proper seating of the tie, and reinforcing rods extending longitudinally of said body reinforcing the same and adapted to anchor the rails to said rail platforms.

Signed at Suffern in the county of Rockland and State of New York, this 7th day of June, A. D. 1920.

HARRY JONES. Witnesses:

FRANK WERNER, FRED J. SEYMOUR. 

